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16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence

16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence starts on November 25 — theÌýÌý— and ends on December 10,Ìý.

In 1991, the Center for Women’s Global Leadership at Rutgers University initiated an annual international campaign that is dedicated to ending gender-based violence, and that has since run every year, with support from the United Nations and with growing participation from hundreds of organizations around the world.

In the past, Human Rights & Equity Services has collaborated with various faculties, organizations, services, departments, centres, offices, and programs on campus and in the surrounding Halifax community to host and deliver, over a 16-day period, a series of events, campaigns, and/or activities committed to profiling, addressing, and eradicating all forms of sex- and gender-based violence.

November 25 – December 10

Purple Day Giveaway Launch

Having the skills and confidence to intervene in situations before, during and after violence occurs is fundamental to us all embracing our responsibility to create a community of care and end gender-based violence. We invite students, staff and faculty members across the Â鶹´«Ã½ community to take an inventory on what they know and can do, and display their readiness to intervene in violence by wearing a purple shirt or pin during our campaign. Show that you are an active bystander by wearing a purple shirt/pin. Drop by one of our tabling sessions to show us your support, pick up a pin and fill out a ballot to get a chance to win a fun prize!

Table Talks Series: Navigating GBV Support in Our CommunitiesÌý

Drop by to chat with HRES’ Peer Educators who will be sharing information on internal and external resources that can be used by students, staff and faculty to support folks surviving violence.Ìý

Table Talks Series: Men as Allies against GBV

Drop by our table to chat with HRES’ Education & Sexualized Violence Advisor who will be sharing information on how men and masc-identifying folks can intervene in situations where gender-based harm is being learned, perpetuated and/or inflicted.Ìý

November 25Ìý

Bystander Intervention in Sports Webinar (hosted by Right to Be)Ìý

Online at 7-8:30pm ESTÌý

When maltreatment happens in sports, people are almost always around, and if they aren’t around, they can be quickly summoned to show up. Our goal is to reduce maltreatment in sports by providing the tools needed to disrupt those perpetrating it. We will equip you with tools to be an effective bystander in the midst of maltreatment in sports by using our proven 5Ds of bystander intervention methodology - distract, delegate, document, delay, and direct.Ìý

Film Screening & Discussion of Athlete AÌý

Collaborative Health Building at 6:00-8:30pmÌý

Join the Women in Sport Society for a public film screening of the documentary Athlete A. The screening will be followed by a short debriefing session with Dr. Barb Hamilton-Hinch and resource sharing with the HRES Education Advisor. Snacks, peer support and captioning will be provided. Only 25 spaces are available.

November 26

Stand Up Against Street Harassment Webinar (hosted by Right to Be)Ìý

Online at 11:00-12:00pm ESTÌý

It starts by taking action right now. Join us for a one-hour, interactive, virtual training to learn how to intervene when you see harassment happening. We’ll talk about what harassment looks like — from microaggressions to violence — and how Right To Be's 5D’s of bystander intervention can help: distract, delegate, document, delay, and direct. We’ll also talk about how to prioritize your own safety while intervening and how to respond if you get harassed. We’ll have time at the end for practice, and you’ll leave feeling more confident intervening the next time you see street harassment!

Self-Defense Workshop (hosted by Evolution Self Defense)

Dalplex Fitness Studio at 6:00-8:00pmÌýÌý

Join instructor Cara from Evolution Self Defense for a 2-hour session to learn physical and non-physical techniques to disrupt violence. No experience is required to participate in this session. This session is open to all women, non-binary and gender non-conforming students. Staff and student peers will be onsite to provide support throughout the session.

November 27

Take Back the Night (hosted by SERC, Avalon and THAN)Ìý

Meet at the Garrison Grounds at 8:00pmÌý

Join the Sexual Education & Resource Center, Avalon and THANS for a night of community support and solidarity. This event is open to all community members.

November 28

Waves of Change WorkshopÌý

Tupper Building Room F200 at 1:00-3:00pm

Join Lyndsay Anderson, HRES’ Sexualized Violence Advisor, and Student Educator KJ for a free, interactive session on preventing sexualized violence on campus. Certificates will be provided to participants.

Only 30 spaces are available.

Learn more about Waves of Change

December 3

Stand Up Against Street Harassment Webinar (hosted by Right to Be)Ìý

Online at 2-3pm ESTÌý

We join forces with L’Oréal Paris to ensure everyone’s self-worth, leveraging our 5D’s methodology to help people safely intervene when they experience or witness harassment in public spaces. Through this 1 hour training we use a clear, adaptable, and expert-approved set of tools that have been proven to reduce the prevalence of street harassment. The goal of the Stand Up program is to ultimately build a culture where street harassment is seen as unacceptable behavior.

December 4

Bystander Intervention in the Workplace Webinar (hosted by Right to Be)Ìý

Online at 11:30-12:00pm EST

Our goal is to reduce instances of workplace harassment online and in person by giving employees the tools they need to disrupt those perpetrating the harassment. We equip employees with the right information on how to be an effective online bystander in the midst of workplace harassment using our proven 5D’s methodology; 98% of employees leave our training committing to intervene next time they witness disrespect or harassment.Ìý

Bystander Intervention to Stop Online Harassment: How to Be an Ally When You Witness Abuse Online Webinar (hosted by Right to Be)

Online at 2:00-3:30pm EST

As more of our personal and professional lives go digital, online hate and harassment are on the rise. Abusive trolls join forces to disproportionately target BIPOCs, women, and LGBTQ+ folks to intimidate, discredit, and silence. Each and every one of us can be an ally. In this free, one-hour, interactive training, we’ll give you the tools you need to intervene safely and effectively in online abuse using the 5D’s of bystander intervention.

December 6

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women Vigil (hosted by the Women in Engineering Society at Â鶹´«Ã½)

Richard Murray Design Building at 7:00pmÌý

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women Vigil (hosted by the Avalon)Ìý

Meet at the Public Gardens at 4:30Ìý

Stand Up Against Street Harassment Webinar (hosted by Right to Be)Ìý

Online at 12:00-1:00pm EST

It starts by taking action right now. Join us for a one-hour, interactive, virtual training to learn how to intervene when you see harassment happening. We’ll talk about what harassment looks like — from microaggressions to violence — and how Right To Be's 5D’s of bystander intervention can help: distract, delegate, document, delay, and direct. We’ll also talk about how to prioritize your own safety while intervening and how to respond if you get harassed. We’ll have time at the end for practice, and you’ll leave feeling more confident intervening the next time you see street harassment!